Machine for washing boxes, cans, and other articles



I G. s. .LAKEsLEl-i. MACHINE FOR WASHING BOXES, CANS, AND OTHER ARTICLES.

. APPLICATION FILED FEB- 23, I9I7. 319423,30@ Patented July 18, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

APPLlCATION FILEDv FEB. 23. 1917.

Patented July 18, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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with essi G. S. BLAKESLEE. MACHINE FOR WASHING BoxEs, c'ANs, AND oIIIIgII ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED FEBA 23, 1917.

PAIAIIIAI July I8, 1922.

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4 SHEETS- SHEET 3.

G. S. BLAKESLEE. `MCHINE FOR WASHING BOXES, CANS, ND OTHER ARTICLES. APPLICATION FILEDFEB. 23, 1911.

Lzm, Patented July 18,1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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To all uz/iomj/z may concern lie it known that` if, Gnoiion. BLiiiriisLnE, a citizen of.y the United States, and a resident of` Chicago, iii the county of Cookand State of illinois, have. invented certain 'new and useful improvements ing iiiachines for liashing Boxes, Cans, and Other Articles, of which. the following. is aspeciiica-tion, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. f

lily invention relates to washing.machines, and particuiaiily to machines for washing metallic, shipping and storing vessels ofv various lrindssuch as biscuit cansalthough it may he used` for. washing a.. great AVariety of articles. it will he understood, therefore, that while l,haveillust-rated,and hereinai described my improved machinewith special reference to its use for washing square cans such as those commonly usedl for paclring biscuits or crackers, my invention is not limited to use for such purposesoiily, ,buti

.contemplates the use of` the apparatus shown.

and described for any purpose for `whic :ir is.v adapted.

fidi'iia-rilyg caiisoi' vessels of the chara ter referred to are made of tin,andarejpro ided with a hinged cover, andy as theyA iiiiistvhe thoroughly washed on the insidel aswell as on the outside andniust also he completely dried topi'event rusting, several important factors must he taken.into.consideration in providing a suitable machine forwashing and drying them. First,tlie roven must he held out. of the way so as to pei-mi ree iccess of the wash-water to the Vinterior of the, can. Second, the cofver must helieldso that it will not be damaged or the hingcsiiijureal. Third, provision must lie iiiadefor violently` throwing the waslrwater and the-rinsingwater not only over the outside of, the can and cover but also into thezinteriongof the can. Fourth, the can must he so heldas to permit the 'washing and rinsing. water` to drain out.` freely. Fifth, the an aiidcorer .inst loe completely dried hoth inside and` outside. Sixth, the mechanism for moving the cans through the washing anddrying apparatus must he so constructed :find are raufied as not to interfere with the .thorough washing and drying of the cans and coi'ers. lu my pending application, Serial No. 92,387, file-d iii-.pril 20, 191.6, l have showirandde` scribed iiiafhineiof. the same general-clim'- acter as iliat of this application, the hineipal 'differences hetireen them having to do forming a horizontal Patentes .iiiiy is, iaaa.

Application led February 23, llfj. Serial No.1lf-7.

with vthe arrangement of.` the drying 'come i partiiieiit;, t lie mechanism by which the drying is accomplished, the provision in the machine of the latter application. of. means for disposing cieansing compartments, andy the construction and arrangement of the conveying in Fig, l, showing the conveyer mechanisml rinsing paddle-wheels..

andthe washing and together with the housing which encloses the. apparatus;

. Fig. 4iis Fig.l g-these two figures. taken together sectional View of, the whole.machineg` i f l Fig.y is a partialvertical.section ofy that.

portion of the machine shown .in Fig.y a, illustrating the mechanism used for drying the cans; i'

Fig. 6 is aVY vertical cross-sectional view,

illustrating the general construction of the inlet end portion of the machine-that is to say, that vportion in which are located the washing and rinsing mechanism and. the

mechanism for controllingthe circulation off air and vapor; Y

Fig. 7 is a reduced cross-sectioual yiewof the discharge or drying endof the machine; F ig. 8 is an enlargeduiletail illustrating a part of the conveying mechanism; and.

F 9-is a fragmentary viewdllustrating the support upoiiwhich the open end of the can. rests while heilig' washed and dried.

Referring to the drawings,-

.lO-ll indicate two tanks adapted to hold washing and rinsing waterq respect'rely, tanlrslieing separated by a parti .ion .l2 and ha ving, respectively, end partitions 13 l-i. .l5-1G iiid'catc compartments arranged at one side of thc washing and rinsing tanks, respectively, and opening .thereinto The hottonis of. saidv compartments are at a-liigher 'lerelthaiithe 'hot-toms of the tanks 'l0-11,

as shown in F G, so that the solid matter 'washed `lroin the cansiiiay settle at the hottom of the washing` and rinsing tanks and ofl the vapors arising. in the.

a continuation to the right ofr iiorv lsupported in an in4 Figs. 6 and T, the open ends of the `iaus will not pass into the campartments 15-16. 17--18 indicate washing and rinsing paddlewheels mounted in the compartments 15--16, respectively, and adapted by their rotation to violently throw the washing and rinsing water upwardly and laterally into the upper portions of the washing and rinsing chambers. In the views illustrated, the paddlewheels 17-18 rotate in a clockwise direction. 19--20 indicate housings which enclose the paddle-wheel compartments 15-16, ysaid housings merging in a housing 2l which encloses the entire machine and also the washing and rinsing tanlrs. This housing is mounted on legs or other suitable supports 22, as best shown in Fig. l. 23 indicates a shaft mounted in suitable bearings carried by the housings l9-20, the paddle-wheels lT-l being mounted on said shaft, as shown in Fig. l). The shaft 23 is driven from an electric motor 24 mounted on the top of the housing 2l, as shown in Fig. l, said motor having a pulley 25 connected by a belt 26 with a pulley 27 mounted on a counter-shaft 2S also journaled in suitable bearings in the housings ,1Q- 20, asshowu in Fig. l. The shaft 28 is geared to the shaft 23 by a pinion 29 mounted on the shaft 28 and ya gear 30 mounted on the shaft 23, as shown. iii-32 indicate rails which extend longitudinally of the machine over the washing and rinsing compartments and through the drying, compartment hereinafter described, which is a horizontal eXtenionv of the washing and rinsing compartmen .ln the construction shown, these rails are suitably spaced apart so as to be adapted to support the cans or other arti'- cles to be washed, and as shown in Fig. 6, the rail 3l an angle-iron and the rail 32 is channel-iron, the latter having an inner marginal flange 33 and a higher outer flange best shown in Figs. 6 and 9. Adjacent to the 'I'lano'e 33 the rail 32 is also provided' N with perforations 35 at suitable intervals for the escape of drippings, as hereinafter described. Both these rails are carried on supporting cross bars 36 mounted at suitable intervals longitudinally of the machine bv means of brackets S7- 38, as shown in llig.` (3. The cross-bars 86 are in the form of angle-bars. their vertical flanges being iitted in slots in the brackets 237-38 so that they may readily be removed when desired. They are also so mounted or shaped that the rail '32 is carried at a somewhat lower level than the rail 3l so that the cans are inclined position, as shown being toward thel washing and rinsing compartments. .sis best shown in F G, the rails Sl-R2 are mounted a short distance above the norunl water levelin the washing and. rinsing tanks so that as the cans move past the washing and rinsing paddle-wheels the washing or rinsing water will be thrown violently'into them and around them, and will drain back into the washing and rinsing tanks owing to the inclination of the cans. lt `will also be apparent that after the bulk of the `Washing and rinsing water iiows out of the can, the drippings will also vflow down and out into the channel-iron track 32 and vwill be returned to the washingpand rinsing tanks through the drip holes 39 indicates an overhead rail which is secured to the top of the housing 2l and extends longitudinally thereofr over' the cans and in close proximity thereto so-as to prevent displacement thereof during the washing and rinsing operations. Said rail, in the construction shown, is mounted on brackets el() placed at suitable intervals.

4l indicates the drying compartment, which, as has been stated, is an extension of thewashing and rinsing` compartments the drying compartment being separated therefrom by a cross partition 42, having an opening for the passage of the cans, as best shown 'in Figs. 3 and 6. This partition prevents the rinsing water from splashing into the drying compartment and aids in maintaining the proper movements of air and vapors in the different compartments. 43 indicates a bank of` steam pipes arranged in the lower portion of the drying compartment, as best shown in Fig. 5, said steam pipes having connections lle-45 so that steam may be caused to circulate vtherethrough from any suitable source. a6 indicates a baille-plate Vwhich extends over the steam pipes a3 and under the rails 231-32, as also shown in said ligure. The baille-plate 4:6 does not extend quite to the ends of the drying compartment lil., its purpose being to direct the air currents towards the ends of the drying compartment, as hereinafter described. t7 indicates a hot air pipe which extends longitudinally of the drying compartment at one side thereof` as shown in Figs l and 2, said pipe having a number of nipples i8 which open into the drying compartment at intervals, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and T. These nipples are located so as to direct hot air into the open ends of the cans as they move along through the drying compartment, as shown in the latter ligure. Preferably, the pipe 5 i" tapers toward the discharge end of the machine so as to equalize the distribution of the hot air throughout the length of the drying compartment. 49 indicates an exhaust -pipe whichopens into the lower portion of the `drying compartment below the steam pipes 43 and baille-plate a6, as shown in Fig. The latter pipe connects with the `inlet side ofa fan-or blower 50, Vand the pipe -tT-eonnects with the outlet side of said fan, as shownin Fig. 6. Thus,when the fan is in operation, air is drawn into the pipe -l-S) from the lower portion of the drying compartment,

lll)

. S is adjusted to the partition` 42.

Masson passing over the steam pipes 43 and around-- the battle-plate loin its course to' said pipe.-

t the same time, the heated air so Withd-lawn from the drying compartment isireintroduced into the upper portion thereof through the pipe 4T and nipples e8, being dischargedintothe interior of the cans,

above described. Thus, a consta-ntcircula 7 tion of -hot air is maintained through the drying compartment, such hot air being discharged' directly into the interior of the cans so that they are quickly and 'completely dried: lThetan is also driven fiirom the motor Qa'by means of. a belt 5l which passes around. a pulley 52 mounted on the loiver shaft 53, as shown in Fig. G, said belt being driven by a pulley- 5e vmounted on the shaft 28, as shown in Fig. l.

55-56indicate exhaust pipes Which con- 4.neet lrom above ivithftheend portions oi the Washing and rinsing coi'npartments, respectively, by hoods '5i-5S, as shown in Figs. l and 2. The hood 5? is adjusted to the inlet end of the n'iacliine7 and the hood The two exhaust pipes. 55-56 connect with` a common pipe 59 which leads to an, exhaust fan G0 mounted; 0n top of: the machine as shown in Fig. l, beingy arranged; to discharge through a pipe (31. Thus, while the ex,-

haust, fan 60 is in operationv thevapors ris' ing in. the Washing and rinsing= compartmentsr Will` beA drawn olf and dischargedl through the pipe 6l, thus preventing them from passing into the drying, compartment,

and'k insuring the preservation of the air in thek drying compartment. in a. state oi' dryness. Theexhaust ian 6th-is operated from the shaft QSIby a belt 62driven by ay pulley 63, as shown in F ig. l.

The cans .or other articles are moved through the machine by a conveyer the construction ot which is best shownv in` Figs. fl, (3 and 8. Saidconveyer con'iprises a link belt oryehain- 6av having at interv-.ils a series of verticaliy-disposed` plates 6o, the. ends oi'y said plates being fitted in` grooves,- in upper and; lowerv tracks GG--G'j respectively. so that the plates 65 are adaptedto travel inv vertical position longitudinally. oit said tracks. The tracks 66-67 are secured against the side wall of the housing` opposite that at which are located the Washing and` rinsingpaddlenvheel's ands above the level ol? the cross-bars 36, as shownin Fig, 6. fly. mounting the conveyor-i at the opposite si de ot the,cleansingcompartmentsK4 trom the paddle Wheelss the; Water. thrown by said; wheels` has unobstructed access tothe cans or. other. articles, andinay passjtreely over the sa1ne so that theirf proper..cleansing is assured. {3S-G9 indicate a second painot housing of the .machine andv being.supporta ed by brackets 70, as best shown in Figs.

G and 7. The chain or belt Get is endless,

chain as it travels. 7l. indicates horizontally-projecting armswhich are carried by the plates 65 and extend transversely of the machine in position to engage the cans resting on the rails Ell-32. Each oi". said` arms is` provided,` at its outer end with a. rearvwarily-extending vringer 72. as shown in Fig. 4, said vling-er being soA placed as to form a support against which the lid of the can mayI rest when turned back at right angles with the body of. the cam thus holding the lid in suchv position and: preventing it from beingv swung backward far enough. to damage the hinge; it also sup.- ports the li'df against` the impact ot .thea ivaslrwater, and. preventsit from being distorted in shape. 7? indicates. the cans. Z/l indicates al longitudinally-extending table which extends laterally trom 'thehousing 2].. and. is. supported.r by braces. assho vnv the. chain 6ft, asfvbestshoisvn. in Figs, andv 4.- @nepii said.sprocket-Wheels, fas T6. isr Amounted in bearings adpistable lengitudi-y nally` by meansoit a screw i8 sol thatv the tension ofrthe conveyer 64: may be, regulated. The conaf-:yerisl driven-troni the motor Q4;

through the shaft 23 whichisprovided with y a Worm T9 which. .engages with a Worin*L Wheel SO mounted on a shaft 8l which also carries a beveled; pinion 82. asshouf'n in Fig,` 3. The latter. pinion.V meshes with a beveled pinion 83, carried by a. longitudinally-extending shaft 84 supported b v brackets 8.7), as shownvv in Fig. l. .et the discharge end` of themachine the shaft 8l carries a.. beveled pinion 86. which meshes with a beveled pinion 8T mounted ony a transverse shaft, 88, which, at its opposite endoarries a. secondbe-veled pinion rlfhe latter pinion. meshesivith. a beveled; pinion 90 ymounted onli-@verticalshaft 9i which also carries thesprocket-wheel 7,?. asshovn inFig.. "ThusLtlie convever. travels con.-

TG-T? indicates tinuously; so as to move. the cans longitudikispo at the outlet end oi" the machine. Thus, the machine is practically completely enclosed so that the desired circulation of air and the withdrawal oit the vapors may be eti'ectively accomplished.

llrliile l have described with considerable particularity the construction of the machine illustrated, it willbe understood that my invention is not limited to the specific construction shown except in so tar as such construction is specilically claimed. Any suitable means, such as steam pipes, may be used tor heating the washing and rinsing water. i

That which l claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,-

1l. washing machine of the character described comprising a housing substantiallyenclosing a cleansing compartment, means Vtor supporting cans having hinged covers and tor supporting the covers in open position as the cans pass through the cleansing compartment, a tank, and a paddle wheel at one side oi the cleansing compartment operating to throw water from said tank into and around the cans. i

2. A. washing machine of the character described comprising a housing substantially enclosing a cleansing compartment, means lor supporting in an. inclined position cans having hinged covers and ior supporting the covers in open position asthe cans pass through the cleansing compartment, a tank, anda paddlewheel at oneside of the cleansing` compartment operating to throw water :trom said tank into and around the cans.

A washing machine of the character described comprising a housing substantially enclosing a cleansing compartment, means Alorsupportiing thel articles to be cleansed in an inclined position as they pass through the cleansing compartment, a tank, a paddle wheel at one side ot the cleansing compartment operating to throw wat-er from said tank into and around the articles to be washed. and means at the oppositeside of said housing from said paddle wheel for moving the articlesthrough the cleansing compartment. i H 't 4l. A. washing machine of the character described comprising a housing substantially enclosing a cleansing compartment means tor supporting in an inclined position cans having hinged covers and for supporting the covers in open position as the cans` pass through the cleansing compartment, `a tank, a paddle wheel at one side of the cleansing compartment operating to throw water from said tank into and around the cans, and means at the opposite side or said housing 'trom said paddle wheel for moving Vthe cans through the cleansing compartment.

- 5. A. .vashing` machine of the character described. comprising a cleansing compartment, tracks extending through said compartment, the track at one side of said compartwater upward into and around thecans as they pass through said compartment. y

6. A washing machine of the character described, comprising a cleansing compartment, tracks extending through said compartment, the track at one side of said compartment being in the torm of a channel bar` with its, inner flange lower than its outer flange, said channel-bar having openings for the escape of drippings, saidtracks being arranged to support cans in an inclined position, and means at one side oi' the machine operating tothrow water upward into and around the cans as they pass through said compartment.

7. A washing machine oi' the character described, comprising a cleansing compartment, a tank, a paddle-wheel at one side ot said compartment operating to throw a .mass ot water from said tank diagonally upward against and over the articles to be cleansed they pass through said cleansing compartnwnt` an endless conveyor for moving cans having covers `hinged thereto through said compartment, said conveyor being mounted to operate in la substantially horizontal plane, means for supporting *theV cans during their movement through the compartment, tracks at the opposite side of said cleansing compartment from said paddle-wheel `tor supporting said conveyor, substantially horizontal arms carried by said conveyor and ladapted to engage the cans and move them through the cleansing compartment andmeans for supporting the can covers in an open position.

8. A washing machine of the character described, comprising a. cleansing compartment, a tank, a paddle-wheel at one side of said compartment operating to throw a mass oiC water from said tank diagonally upward against and over the articles to be cleansed as they pass through saidcleansing compartment. an endless conveyor mounted to `operate rin a substantially horizontal plane, tracks yat the opposite side ot said cleansing compartment from said paddlewheel 'for supporting said conveyor, substanl ment by said conveyor.

9, A. washing `machine of the character described. comprising a cleansing compartment. a tank, a paddle-wheel at one side ot said compartment operating to throw a mass of water from said tank diagonally upward against and over the articles to be cleansed as they pass through said cleansing compartment, an endless conveyor mounted to operate in a substantially horizontal plane, tracks at the opposite'side of said cleansing compartment fromsaid paddlewheel ior supporting` said conveyor, substantially horizontal arms carried by said conveyor and adapted to engage vthe articles to be cleansed and move them through the cleansing compartment, means for supporting the articles to be cleansed during their movement through the compartment, and return tracks for said conveyor located outside oi said housing.

l0. A washing machine of the character described, comprising a cleansing compartment, a tank, a paddle-wheel at one side of said compartment operatingy to throw a mass oil water from said tank diagonally upward against and over the articles to be cleansed as they pass through said cleansing compartment, an endless conveyor for moving cans having covers hinged thereto through said compartment, said conveyor being mounted to operate in a substantially horizontal plane, oppositely disposed upper and lower tracks at the opposite side of said cleansing compartment from said paddle-wheel for supporting said conveyor, substantially horizontal arms projecting away from said conveyor and adapted to engage the cans and move them through the cleansing compartment, said arms having me-ans for supporting the can covers in an open position, means f ttorL supportingvthe cans as they are moved through said cleansing` compartment by said conveyor, and return tracks for said conveyor located outside ot said housing.

ll. washing machine of the character described, comprising a housing forming a cleansing compartment, a tank, a paddlewheel at one side of said compartment operating` to throw a mass of water from said tank diagonally upward against and over the articles to be cleansed as they pass through said cleansing compartment, an endless conveyor mounted to operate in a substantially horizontal plane, oppositely disposed upper and lower tracks at the opposite side of said cleansing compartment from said paddle-wheel for supporting said conveyor, substantially horizontal arms projecting away from said conveyor and adapted to engage the articles to be cleansed and move them through the cleansing compartment, return tracks for said conveyor located outside of said housing, and a plate connected with the housing and overlying and protecting the return portion of the conveyor and the arms thereof.

l2. A washing machine of the character described, comprising a cleansing compartment, a conveyor for moving cans having covers hinged thereto through said compartment, means carried by said conveyor for .supporting the can covers substantially upright in an open position as the cans are moved through said compartment, and means for throwing water against said cans and covers.

13. A washing machine of the character described,l comprising a cleansing compartment, a conveyor for moving cans having covers hinged thereto through said compartment, arms carried by said conveyor and engaging the cans, means carried by said arms for vsupportingthe can covers substan` tially upright in an open position as the cans are moved through said compartment, and means for throwing` water against said cans and covers.

14. A washing machine of the character described, comprising a cleansing compartment, a tank, a paddle-wheel at one side of said compartment and operating to throw a mass of water from said tank against and over the articles to be cleansed, a conveyor adapted to conduct cans having hinged covers in an inclined position through said cleansing compartment with the open ends ot said cans rtoward said paddle-wheel, and means for supporting the can covers substantially upright in an open position against the impact of the cleansing water as the cans move along through the cleansing compartment.

A` washing machine of the character described, comprising` ya cleansing compartment, a tank` a paddle-wheel at one side of said compartment and operating to throw a mass of water from said tank against and over the articles to be cleansed, a conveyor adapted to conduct cans having hinged covers in an inclined position through said cleansing compartment with the open ends of said cans toward said paddle-wheel, stationary means support-ing said cans as they are moved along by said conveyor, and means ttor supporting the can covers substanti ally upright in an open position against the impact of the cleansing water as the cans move along through the cleansing compartment.

GEORGE S. BLAKESLEE. 

